Volvo Trucks recently invited a group of trade press journalists to Gothenburg, Sweden for a deep dive into the company’s electrification and decarbonization effort. The visit included an afternoon at the Volvo Trucks Experience Center (VTEX) in Gothenburg to drive the entire European lineup of battery powered heavy trucks, including the FL, FM, FMX, and FH models. Volvo also made a few diesel models available for ready comparisons.
Exploring Volvo Electric Trucks in Sweden (Photos)
A low-cab FM model parked at the VTEX center. This model would be the equivalent of a day-cab local or short regional tractor.
Photo: Jim Park
Downhill grades offer recuperative charging opportunities. On such grades, the charging function feels like a good engine brake. It actually slows the truck in full application.
Photo: Volvo Trucks
This FM 4x2 tractor has 3 motors and a full i-Shift transmission. It uses only half the available gears and starts in 7th gear. The six-battery pack delivers 540 kWh for a range of about 300 km (180 miles).
Photo: Volvo Trucks
The low cab and wide door opening allow for easy and safe entry and egress. Huge windows offer outstanding visibility all around the truck.
Photo: Jim Park
This FH16 diesel would be the envy of any US driver, with a rating of 750 hp and 2050 lb-ft. In tri-drive configuration, it’s rated for 70 metric tons (154,325 lb).
Photo: Jim Park
Volvo is developing a fuel cell powertrain. It’s in the early stages but shows promise. Journalist rode in the truck with professional driver at the wheel. Inside, it was indistinguishable from the battery version.
Photo: Volvo Trucks
This tractor is powered by a liquified natural gas engine developed jointly by Volvo and Westport. It’s based on the D13 diesel engine. It sounds and feels much like a diesel.
Photo: Volvo Trucks
The Volvo Trucks Experience Center, located in Gothenburg, offers customers a variety of terrain and operating conditions to see and feel the truck in action.
Source: Google screenshot
The full European battery electric lineup features 10 models from low-cab city trucks to tall-cab highway trucks.
Photo: Volvo Trucks
Volvo made its entire battery truck lineup available to journalists on the ride and drive event held recently in Gothenburg, Sweden
Photo: Volvo Trucks
This 90 kWh ESS (energy storage system) was developed in house for deployment on FM, FMX, and FH models. The units are scalable up to 6 units per truck.
Photo: Volvo Trucks
The driving course at VTEX has a 12% grade, which the fully loaded trucks walked up like they were on flat ground. The hill slowed the diesel models noticeably.
Photo: Volvo Trucks
This high-cab FH is the highway intercity model.
Photo: Volvo Trucks
Volvo’s lone medium-duty, the FL model, truck features a 170-kW motor, a two-speed gearbox and battery capacity of 265 kWh. GVW is 16 metric tons (35,275 lb).
Photo: Volvo Trucks
Several diesel trucks were available to drive for direct comparison to the electric models. This FH model is Volvo’s top-of-the-line highway truck.
Photo: Jim Park
A Volvo FH model shown beside a Kempower 400 kW charging stanchion. The charging port on the FM is located below and behind the driver’s door on the left side.
Photo: Jim Park